Re: Intel Based Macs...?

Donald L McDaniel writes:
> David C. wrote:
>>
>> It may be possible for Apple to do the same thing today. Such a card
>> would be a PCI-express card containing an entire Intel motherboard
>> (CPU, memory, bridge chips, etc.). When enabled, the legacy
>> motherboard would be disabled, with the x86 card taking over the PCI
>> bus for access to the expansion cards and peripheral interfaces.
>>
>> Of course, the fact that it is possible does not mean it would be
>> practical, nor does it mean Apple would actually consider developing it.
>> IMO, they will not develop any such device.
>
> My question would be "why add a second computer to be able to use the
> first one?"

I can think of a few reasons.

They're both in one case, so you don't burn lots of desk space (which
is often at a premium). The two systems get to share many peripherals,
like the disk drives, video card, and external devices.

Depending on the price, such an upgrade might be a good idea, even if
you never disable it (booting back to PPC mode).

But as I said, the fact that this is possible doesn't mean it would be
a good idea, from a product perspective.

> Wouldn't that be like "guilding the lily?" Maybe it would be
> something different for the rich hobbyist, but not for everyday work.
> Especially when a single MacTel logic board will be perfectly capable
> of running either OS natively. I'm sure either Apple or Microsoft
> will quickly write a connector app allowing switching back and forth
> between the two OSes with a keystroke or mouse-click.

I don't think you understood what I wrote.

I'm not talking about a PC-on-a-card for providing Windows compatibility
(although stuff like that has been developed in the past.) I'm talking
about a board with an Intel processor and necessary support circuitry to
enable a PPC PowerMac to boot the Intel version of Mac OS.

When enabled, this card would (ideally) turn the whole system into the
equivalent of an Intel Mac, not a PC.

As for why you wouldn't just replace the whole computer with an Intel
Mac system, that box wouldn't be able to run Mac-PPC apps natively.
Depending on what you're doing, that might be of critical importance.

-- David
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: A 21st Century Apple II?
    ... If the Second Sight card is any indication, ... to plug them into a real Apple II. ... For some people an emulator is fine. ... reason that similar changes could not be made with an FPGA version. ...
    (comp.sys.apple2)
  • Re: RFC : SOME IDEAS FOR THE APPLE II FPGAers
    ... The Apple II as a concept? ... Well, this preserves the whole thing, because when you remove the card, ... I think the already available accelerators get pretty close to 'close ... The other thing that *may* not work is the video overlay card, ...
    (comp.sys.apple2)
  • Re: RFC : SOME IDEAS FOR THE APPLE II FPGAers
    ... Then you can take the card with you and plug it into another Apple II. ... just feel that the implementation complexity is actually very high. ... current levels of compatibility in accelerator design. ...
    (comp.sys.apple2)
  • Re: Intel Based Macs...?
    ... with the x86 card taking over the PCI ... nor does it mean Apple would actually consider developing it. ... >> Especially when a single MacTel logic board will be perfectly capable ... > enable a PPC PowerMac to boot the Intel version of Mac OS. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.misc)
  • Re: apple iie, electron microscope..musings?
    ... 'dapple systems' it had dials where a keybd should be .an extended keybd, ... accel card, proslot card, mouse card, hi speed scsi card and a couple of red ... ....to start up my mad apple //e science lab...(understanding science would ... much needed device of the typical mad scientist apple //e lab...the ...
    (comp.sys.apple2)